Private Security Guard Charged With Murder In Portland Shooting

PORTLAND, OR —Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt announced Thursday that a grand jury had indicted a private security guard in connection to the May 29 fatal shooting of Freddie Nelson in a Lowe's Home Improvement parking lot in the Delta Park area of north Portland.

In announcing the indictment, Schmidt also spoke about the topic of private security, and the role it should or should not play in policing, and he said he would be working with state lawmakers to address the topic.

Logan Gimbel, 28, was charged with murder in the second degree with a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon with a firearm, recklessly endangering another person and two counts of unlawful use of mace in the second degree.

Gimbel turned himself in to authorities on Thursday, the DA's office said.

According to KPTV, at about 6:42 p.m. on the night of the incident, officers responded to a shooting call at the Lowe's, located at at 1100 block of North Hayden Meadows Drive.

Nelson, 49, was found dead at the scene. Officers said they believe the victim had been shot and killed by Gimbel, who had been hired as a private security guard to patrol businesses in the Delta Park area. Gimbel remained at the scene to be interviewed by detectives.

Nelson left behind a wife and three children. Nelson's wife is the victim of charges of recklessly endangering another person and one count of unlawful use of mace in the second degree, the DA's office said.

"My thoughts are with Freddy Nelson's family in the wake of this tragedy. We will work to prevent anything like this from happening again," Schmidt said.

In a press release announcing the indictment, the DA's office also addressed the topic of private security, particularly armed private security, which the office said has been a local and national discussion in recent years.

"While armed private security guards can encounter situations where the use of deadly force may be considered lawful, most do not receive the tactical and de-escalation training which is expected of sworn law enforcement," the DA's office said.

The DA's office said Schmidt has committed himself to working with state lawmakers to assess the adequacy of existing laws governing the use of private security, including: training, accountability for misconduct to use of force and balancing the important role private security can play in protecting businesses with public safety as a whole.

State Representative Janelle Bynum (D-Happy Valley) said government action is necessary to address the issues relating to private security.

"True justice would be Mr. Nelson still being here with us today. I am saddened that Oregon lost a father and a husband through this tragedy," Bynum, who is Chair of the House Committee on Judiciary, said in a statement released by the DA's office.

"The authority to protect and serve people is derived from the community, and thus all policing conduct must be held to the highest standard. When that standard is not met, our community deserves to see course corrections through accountability mechanisms and through policy."

State Sen. Floyd Prozanski (D-Eugene) said the case highlights the need to examine the training of private security officers.

"Guns should be used only in the rare situations where circumstances dictate their use," said Prozanski, who is the Chair of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.

"This case is not only devastating to the victim's family, but it also fortifies the need to review the current level of de-escalation training and tactical engagement that private security personnel receives to obtain their certification or license. We must make sure that the private security sector adheres to modern best practices of de-escalation and tactical engagement."